Context and
Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death in postmenopausal
women and dyslipidemia has important contributing factor. The objective of the study was to evaluate
low-dose estrogen plus progestogen therapy
(EPT) + simvastatin for vasomotor symptoms and lipid and lipoprotein
profiles. Design and Setting: Clinical
trial was conducted in a private clinical research center. Methods: Two hundred forty symptommatic
postmenopausal women with dyslipidemia were randomized to one of three
treatment groups: A) 1 mg estradiol/ 0.5 mg norethisterone acetate (E2/NETA) +
20 mg simvastatin; B) E2/NETA + placebo; or C) 20 mg simvastatin + placebo.
Lipid and lipoprotein profiles and menopausal symptoms were evaluated after
16 weeks. Results: Total cholesterol, LDL
cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol decreased (P < 0.05) in all three groups,
Apo-B/Apo-A1 and ApoB (P < 0.01) in groups A and C and TG and ApoA1 only in
group A comparing baseline versus final. Comparing the groups, group B showed
differences in relation to others in total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, Apo B and ApoB/Apoa1
(P < 0.01). Relief of menopausal symptoms was better compared in A and B. Conclusions: Thus in postmenopausal women with
dyslipidemia, the association of E2/ NETA low-dose with simvastatin relieved climacteric symptoms similar to that observed with isolated E2/NETA and improved lipid and lipoprotein profile similar to the
isolated use of simvastatin. The use of
E2/NETA alone decreased menopausal symptoms, but did not improve
dyslipidemia.

Rossouw, J.E. (2006) Implications of recent clinical trials of postmenopausal hormone therapy for management of cardiovascular disease. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1089, 444-453.
doi:10.1196/annals.1386.046

Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (2001) Executive Summary of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). JAMA, 285, 2486-2497. doi:10.1001/jama.285.19.2486

Walldius, G. and Jungner, I. (2006) The apoB/apoA-I ratio: A strong, new risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a target for lipid-lowering therapy—A review of the evidence. Journal of Internal Medicine, 259, 493-519.
doi:10.1111/j.1365-2796.2006.01643.x